Peach and Crawford Accountability Court celebrates first graduate

FORT VALLEY, Ga. – On Wednesday, April 5 at 3 p.m., the Peach and Crawford County Accountability Court held its first graduation at the Peach County Courthouse. PCAC member Donald Adams was awarded a graduate certificate from Superior Court Justice Connie Williford for completing the program and staying sober for over 18 months.

The celebration started with a speech by Justice Williford, followed by a speech from the keynote speaker, Georgia Supreme Court Justice Verda Colvin, and ended with Adams receiving his certificate and giving a short speech.

Williford’s speech focused on her feelings on the occasion, the background for the program and her hopes for the graduate. She spoke of how this was the first PCAC graduation and how overjoyed she was with the success of the program. She hopes that in the future as the program grows, there will be many graduates. She emphasized to Adams that he would always be remembered as the first graduate of the program.

The PCAC faced multiple problems when it was in the process of getting started, namely due to covid. Williford thanked the many people and departments for helping make the program possible.

Williford discussed the cycle – the cycle of poverty, the cycle of crime, the cycle of drug abuse – and how hard it can be to break those cycles. She spoke of how breaking those cycles doesn’t just make a difference for Adams’ life, but also his children’s lives and their children’s lives.

Next up to the podium was Justice Verda Colvin. She focused on the pride she had for the program and spoke words of inspiration to Adams and the members of PCAC. Clovin, when she was on the Superior Court, was the one to start the footwork for the program. She thanked Peach County’s Board of Commissioners for their help in funding the program.

Colvin then turned the attention to Adams and shook his hand in congratulations for completing the program, saying Adams had now set a standard for every current participant, the ones that come after him, and the ones that come in years from now. She gave her support and emphasized how much the program matters and how it makes a difference in so many lives.

“Don’t give up. Don’t turn back.” Colvin stated.

Colvin ended her speech by emphasizing three main points. Her first point was to remember the three C’s of life – choices, chances, and change.

“You must make the choice to take a chance if you want anything to change,” Colvin said. “You can never conquer what you won’t confront.”

Colvin’s second point focused on surrounding yourself with positive people and making positive life choices. Her final point was that there will always be a struggle – where there is no struggle, there is no progress.

Williford presented Adams with his certificate which was followed by applause. Adams then stepped up to the podium with a short speech.

Adams recounted his journey with addiction and the trials he and his family faced. Adams recounted his experience of overdosing and being resuscitated. Adams emphasized that PCAC saved his life.

Adams detailed a recent event during his time in the PCAC. Adams had been driving near a bridge where he used to get high. He called a PCAC staff member and asked them to talk to him long enough to get away from there. He stated the addiction was almost overwhelming, but he didn’t give in and he drove past.

Adams thanked those who helped him make it through the program and those who helped him stay sober for almost 2 years. His speech ended with a standing ovation.

Adams explained the difficulties that came from his addiction and the physical effects from the withdrawal.

“For me, being a recovering heroin addict, one of the hardest parts for me about my recovery and getting clean was the physical dependency that the drug had on me,” he stated. “Heroin is a physical [withdrawal]. For example, when I was in my prime addiction and I got locked up in jail – I was sick for 6 months, I couldn’t eat hardly anything, I was throwing up, my body ached, my body just hurt all over.”

Adams is committed to staying clean, not only as a commitment to himself but also as a commitment to his wife and two young children.

“I’ve made a commitment to myself and to my family that I’m not going to go back to using. I’m done with that lifestyle. Family is everything to me,” Adams stated.